how does Jesus make a difference?

Last week I was involved in a conversation about caring for the poor. It started with a discussion about Obama’s new health secretary and the possibility that she might craft a health care policy that would cover abortion costs through tax dollars or health insurance premiums. The debate that ensued was around the idea that to make abortions available only to those who can afford them out of pocket places more burden on those who will have the most difficulty continuing a pregnancy, that is, the poor. 70% of abortions in this country are due to economic reasons. This was not a discussion about pro-choice or pro-life. It was about another justice issue altogether. If we block abortions in the name of morality, does it not also follow that we have a moral imperative to assist those who will be most affected by that choice?

One person argued that no, people who make bad choices must be responsible for the consequences. After all, he and his wife scrimped and saved and did without to raise their children, so everyone else can too. No doubt they are hard working, decent people. He refused to consider that some are not quite in the same position to make the same choices that he had. That made no sense in his worldview. His certainty seemed to illustrate some of what has been lost in our modern understanding of Christianity. It is reduced to the same laws and formulas that Jesus often countered with, “You have heard… but I say to you…”

It seems that Jesus affirmed that most of life is far messier and many a human heart is far more wounded than we can easily face. To be sure, many wounded people will fail miserably at religion and possibly at much of life as well. To illustrate this, a good friend of mine who is a seminary professor does a project with her students. She divides them into groups and gives each group a packet containing materials to create a hanging mobile. They can do anything they want and be as creative as they like. When all the projects are done, they will evaluate them together. Of course, some turn out to be colorful and beautiful, others turn out to look like they were just thrown together without much thought. After criticizing some of the lesser creations, the students are shocked to find out that some groups were not given the same glue, scissors, colors, or any extras as the others to start with. It made an obvious difference in the product.

People do not necessary start life with the same packets either. The former prostitutes that we work with are often deeply addicted, most have been severely abused, and many are so self-contemptuous that self-defeating behavior is all they know. To make good life decisions for themselves and their children and to sustain the commitment to what they choose takes a good deal of healing intervention. They are so wounded and defended that they have little ability to tolerate community, much less trust the love of another. It takes much time and patience from those walking alongside to assist them to grow into believing that they are valuable enough to be loved and that they deserve to live well.

Now I am not in favor of programs that merely enable people to stay stuck in cycles of poverty and addiction. Nor do I think we should cushion people from the natural consequences that the mistakes and bad choices in life can bring. Our program does require following few but very important rules and they do have consequences. However, to recognize that there are many people who will need a great deal of help in order to heal and grow (which can possibly reduce abortions and help with other social issues, which is something I think we all can agree on) and thus to take action for their sakes is also a moral issue.

But the man continued to insist that just doing it, just making better decisions is the answer. He also used his own successful ability to choose as justification for his lack of compassion for those who have started out with less. In his mind, the issue had to remain black and white. There are simply no excuses.

I do remember much of the dualistic thinking that was used to “disciple” me in my long ago past was basically training to make the right decisions. (Of course I realize that there is an inherent bias on many sides in what constitutes a “right” decision.) But does that truly produce transformation? And, I do not doubt that those who experience an encounter of grace through Christ and his Church do experience some healing, which can produce more positive life decisions. That is a point where the church can shine. But despite our moral knowledge, Christians struggle with life choices (addictions, perversions, marital and financial woes) at the same rate as anyone else. And those whom are considered to be non-believers make plenty of good life choices and moral choices just as well as those who claim to be Christians.

So what then is the difference that Christ makes?  My mind went to the parable of the prodigal son. Our natural tendency is to be the older brother, who is confused and angry at the grace shown to the younger one after all he had done. It simply wasn’t fair since the older one had made all the right choices in life and yet went uncelebrated. The younger one obviously hadn’t and was asking once again, for help. And the father’s heart responds. In truth I think that the difference that Christ makes is that He gives us the heart to make space for the younger brother. He moves us out of the realm of karma (you get what you deserve) into the strange and beautifully disruptive world of grace.

What may be even more miraculous is when we older brothers begin to learn how desperate is our need for God. We have been with Him all along, says the story, and yet, we so often remain blind to His very heart. Those of us who remain safely at home behind the fences may be more lost than we realize. The younger brothers then, are a source of grace to us older brothers so that our religion may finally be damned, and we might finally see what has been truly ours all along.

Of course, we are each at some point both the older brother and the younger one somewhere along the course of our lives. And that, I believe, is grace as well.